Formed 2015 Headquarters Melbourne CEO Kevin Devlin (Mar 2015–) Annual budget 6 billion USD | Jurisdiction Melbourne State Administrative Office executive Kevin Devlin, CEO Founded 2015 | |
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Minister responsible Jacinta Allan, Minister for Public Transport Parent department Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Profiles | ||
The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) is the Government of Victoria's administrative office overseeing the removal of 50 level crossings throughout Melbourne. Established in May 2015, the government committed $2.4 billion in the 2015-2016 budget to remove the first 20 crossings by 2018. The remaining 30 expected to be completed by 2022 at an estimated cost of $6 billion to be funded through the privatisation of the Port of Melbourne.
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Background
When Melbourne's railway network was built, because of the city's flat topography many crossings of the line were via level crossing rather than bridges or underpasses. As traffic levels increased, these began to become bottlenecks. In 1954, the State Government established a committee to look at abolition of level crossings at Clifton Hill, Elsternwick, Footscray, Moorabbin, Newport. These projects were all completed by 1960.
In the early 2010s, level crossings were replaced at Epping, Nunawading, Springvale and Sunshine.
History
In 2014, VicRoads compiled a report of the most dangerous level crossings in Victoria and handed it to the State Government who in turn prioritised the top 50 for removal through grade separation projects, honouring a commitment made in its 2014 election manifesto. Many of the projects will involve the construction of new stations.
This led to the formation of the LXRA in 2015 to oversee and coordinate all planning, contracting and construction to the long term project.
In September 2016, the Port of Melbourne lease was concluded providing $9.7 billion into infrastructure and secures funding for the remaining 30 level crossing removals.
List of crossings
Below is the list of 50 level crossings the LXRA will oversee the replacement of: